11 days after brutal attack, woman remains in coma

There is a deathly silence in the newly-constructed ICU ward at Victoria hospital here. For the past 11 days, a young woman has been lying motionless on a hospital bed.

TNN | Updated: Feb 16, 2013, 02:30 IST

BANGALORE: There is a deathly silence in the newly-constructed ICU ward at Victoria hospital here. For the past 11 days, a young woman has been lying motionless on a hospital bed. Brutally attacked by strangers, who smashed her head with a heavy stone after allegedly sexually assaulting her, the unidentified woman, said to be a resident of Tavarekere near Ramanagaram has not had a single person come looking for her.
The police have not been able to establish her identity ever since she was admitted in the hospital on February 4 as she remains in coma. "We have detained and questioned more than 15 men till date, but no arrests have been made. And our efforts to identify the victim by taking missing person details from surrounding areas has failed as no one has identified her," a senior investigating officer told TOI.

The victim, aged around 25, is being treated at the ICU of Pradhan Mantri Super Speciality unit, Victoria hospital. With no relatives or family to attend on her, the victim is under the care of Ramanagaram police and the Victoria hospital staff.

Operated on the brain following a blood clot, the woman has shown little neurological improvement. She has been on liquid diet since her admission, say doctors.

Dr Balaji Pai, head of neurosurgery, Victoria hospital, told TOI that the victim's condition was far better compared to the state she was admitted in on February 4 but was not regaining consciousness. "She was shifted to the hospital with severe head injuries. We operated on her that night itself. She had blood clot in the brain and now she is recovering. But at least a week's time is needed for her to recover fully," he said. He refused to reveal more details saying the patient is under observation.

Senior police officers said that prime facie there was no sexual assault on the victim. "Doctors and gynaecologists from Victoria have said there are no injuries in the private parts. But the victim had indulged in sexual intercourse just before the attack. The FSL report, which is due next week, will tell whether it was a forced intercourse or not," an investigating officer said.

What happened?

On the night of February 4, police were informed about a woman lying severely injured and unconscious in an open ground in Syndicate Bank Layout near Herohalli. Police found condoms and liquor bottles near the woman. The victim's head had been smashed with a boulder. Immediately, she was shifted to Victoria and a case of attempt to murder was registered.

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